West Ham vs. Southampton: Preview and betting tips

West Ham welcome Southampton to the Premier League on Sunday. Both clubs would like to win on Boxing Day, the home side want to stay in touch with the Top 4, the visitors would like to escape the relegation zone.

West Ham have been a bit stuck in December. They have won only one of their last five league games, dropped out of the League Cup and dropped to fifth in the table. But they are only three points clear of eighth-placed Wolverhampton.

Southampton are also struggling, waiting six rounds to win the Premier League and are only fifteenth in the table. It has only a six-point lead on the relegation places, so it desperately needs to score on Sunday.

Mikhail Antonio is the mainstay of the home side, the lanky striker may not be in the best form, but his 6+4 cannot be overlooked. Declan Rice, perhaps the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League at the moment, has been playing very well all season.

In the away camp, midfielder James Ward-Prowse is worth mentioning, the direct kick specialist has already made three appearances this season. Chelsea’s summer signing Tino Livramento has unexpectedly broken into the starting line-up and is now one of Saints’ mainstays.

West Ham are unusually struggling offensively, scoring just one goal in their last four games across all competitions, coming up empty against Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal and Burnley.

Southampton have the opposite problem, getting at least two goals in five of their last six games. Arsenal have had a treble, while Liverpool have opened the red and white net four times.

Given Southampton’s poor defensive performance, I think West Ham will win.